Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary in the United States

How much does a Mechanical Engineering Technician III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mechanical Engineering Technician III in the United States is $67,568 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $77,223
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,055 to $72,622
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,125
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salaries

A Mechanical Engineering Technician III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Mechanical Engineering Technician I (0-1 years): $52,742
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician II (1-3 years): $58,937
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician III (3-5 years): $67,568
  • Mechanical Engineering Technician IV (5-7 years): $75,168
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Mechanical Engineering Technician I0-1 years$52,742
Mechanical Engineering Technician II1-3 years$58,937
Mechanical Engineering Technician III3-5 years$67,568
Mechanical Engineering Technician IV5-7 years$75,168
View as Graph

How Do Mechanical Engineering Technician IIIs Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Mechanical Engineering Technician IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $74,811.
  • California: $74,528.
  • Massachusetts: $73,534.

Top Paying Cities for Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $85,224
  • San Francisco: $84,290
  • Oakland: $82,514

What Skills Can Increase a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.44% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 2.58% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.44%
Preventive Maintenance 2.58%
Calibration 1.54%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's salary.

  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Oral Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Insight $76,352
13%
Oral Communication $75,676
12%
Scheduling $72,298
7%
Get Latest Data

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Mechanical Engineering Technician III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $75,510. While startup companies pay approximate $63,874.

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $63,874
Growth Stage 51~500 $67,553
Established 501~5000 $72,915
Enterprise 5000+ $75,510

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mechanical Engineering Technician III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Mechanical Engineering Technician positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mechanical Engineering Technician III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$84,460$41.025%
Software & Networking$84,460$41.025%
Energy & Utilities$81,082$39.020%
Insurance$77,703$37.015%
Financial Services$74,325$36.010%

How Education impacts an Mechanical Engineering Technician III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mechanical Engineering Technician III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Mechanical Engineering Technician III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $67,930 and $73,372.

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mechanical Engineering Technician III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 16.0%
Associates 60.0%
Bachelors 21.3%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mechanical Engineering Technician III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$61,055
Average $67,568/year
$72,622
$5,088
Average $5,631/month
$6,052
$1,174
Average $1,299/week
$1,397
$29
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,622 $6,052 $1,397 $35
Average $67,568 $5,631 $1,299 $32
25th Percentile $61,055 $5,088 $1,174 $29

Mechanical Engineering Technician III Salary Growth & Career Path

Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Next Role

For a Mechanical Engineering Technician III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Mechanical Engineering Technician IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $75,168 - a projected growth of 11% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Mechanical Engineering Technician III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Mechanical Engineering Technician III

Here are companies hiring for Mechanical Engineering Technician III and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Mechanical Engineering Technician III Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Mechanical Engineering Technician III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Mechanical Engineering Technician III

1. Where can a Mechanical Engineering Technician III earn the most?

A Mechanical Engineering Technician III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Mechanical Engineering Technician III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Mechanical Engineering Technician III is $85,224.

2. What is the highest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

The highest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician III is $77,223.

3. What is the lowest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

The lowest pay for Mechanical Engineering Technician III is $55,125.

4. What are the responsibilities of Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

Assists mechanical engineers in the planning, testing, and maintenance of mechanical components, equipment, and machinery. Gathers data and project requirements to help prepare proposals, cost estimates, and develop specifications for new parts or prototypes. Conducts clerical research tasks and summarizes and reports findings to support research and development of new technologies or processes. Installs, calibrates, tests, and repairs mechanical components and engineering solutions. Fabricates, modifies, and assembles new or existing mechanical components. Requires a high school diploma. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works independently within established procedures associated with the specific job function. Has gained proficiency in multiple competencies relevant to the job. Typically requires 3-5 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Mechanical Engineering Technician III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Mechanical Engineering Technician III roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job